Roller-bearing for crank-shafts or the like.



No.' 691,487. Patented Jan. 2|, |902.

G. H. REYNoLus.

RULLER BEARING FOR CRANK SHAFTS 0R THE LIKE.

(No Model.)

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY y i UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE. f

GEORGE II.YREYNOLDS, OF MNSFIELD DEPOT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE LOCOMOBILE COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VEST VIRGINIA.

ROLLER-BEARING FORl CRANK-SHAFTS OR THEYLIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 691,487, dated January 21, 1902. Application filed August 8, 1901.- Serial No. 71,296. (No model.)

To all whom. t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mansfield Depot, in the county of Tolland and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Roller-Bearings for Crank- Shafts or the Like, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters 0n the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to improve the construction' of ball-bearings,l particularly with reference to their use in steam-engines.

In the construction of light high-speed engines-such, for instance, as now extensively used in vconnection with automobiles-balk bearings for the crank-shaft and cranks are extensively used; but as at present constructed and used such bearings are usually open to serious objections, particularly in that inadequate provision is made for taking upY wear in or foradju'sting said bearings. Attempts to provide means for adjusting or taking up wear in bearings of this sort have usually resulted in destroying the alinement or proper running positions of some'of the moving parts. v

I will first disclose my invention in connection with one embodiment thereof, from which the nature of the invention vwill be better understood.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, Figure 1, in side elevation, shows a portion ofa steam-engine equipped with bearings made in accordance with my invention, sufficient parts being shown to enable the invention to be understood; and Fig. 2, a vertical section on the dotted line 2 2, the crank and part of the crank-shaft being shown mainly in elevation. n v

In the embodiment of my invention selected for illustration thereof and shown in the drawings, a. indicates part of one of the side frames of the engine, of which there are usually two substantially similar frames that sustain at one of their ends the crank-shaft, the second frame being herein omitted. It

is to be understood, however, that the construction lof bearing for the second frame and adjacent parts may be similar to the parts shown and described. Y

Y The frame a hereln at its lower end 1s pro-s.

vided with a cylindrical recess ct, provided at one side-herein at the inner side of the frame-with' an annular wall a2, ,that partially closes ,the recess at that side of the frame. Within the recess a is a ring-like receiver b, having at one edge an inturned flange b', and within this receiver are varranged the'outer'ring-like cone-bearings c c. The bearing-ring c is shown as fitting tightly the inner bore of the receiver b, together with the inturned flange b thereof, while the bearing-ring c' isthreaded eXteriOrly andris screwed into the 'outer portion of the receiver b, that is interiorly threaded for the purpose. The crank-shaft is shown at d, it having secured upon its end in suitable manner, as bythe feather d', the hub cl2 of the crank d3,

4provided with a crank-pin d4. The crankhub cl2 is shown as provided with a circumferential groove d5, conical in cross-sectionthat is','formed to present tapering side Walls, between which and the adjacent tapering or conical walls or surfaces of the rings c c is arranged a series of balls e. The outer bearing member,'shown as multipartfand herein formed bythe rings c c', and the inner bearing member, herein formed by the converging walls of the conical hub-groove d5, together with the intervening balls e, constitute a ball-bearing in which the crank-shaft may turn freely and Without appreciable friction. The crank d3 is prevented from working off from the end of the crank-shaft by suitable means, as the screw d6, tapped into the end of said shaft. As here shown, the screw d is provided with peripheral notches d8, that receive a locking-finger clfon a locking-plate d10, secured to the crank or its hub ingsuitable manner, as by a screw du. The bearing-'ring c may be secured against rotation in desired manner, I having here provided the same with a series of circumferential notches or 'pockets c2, with which coperates a locking- IOO ring against rotation. By slackening the screw c4 and lifting or removing the lockingplate c3 the ring c may be rotated in either direction necessary for proper adjustment of the bearing.

It will be noticed that the receiver b is loosely carried in the recess of the frame, so that it is free to slide therein axially-that is,

in the direction of the axis of the bearing.

This is useful in that it perinitsthe ring-like outer bearing member c c during adjustment to adjust itself automatically relative to the axially-fixed inner bearing-surfaces of the groove d5 in the crank-hub, so that perfectlyfree and adequate adjustment may at all times be had Without danger of destroying the alinement of the bearings or of throwing out of alinement or working position the crank or other rotating part that may turn in the bearlngs.

Removal of the screw d6 permits the entire crank, its hub, and bearing, including the receiver b, to be removed from the frame at.

rIhhe crank-hub is provided at its inner end with a stop-surface CF, that cooperates with the inturned annular wall or ange d2 of the frame to prevent endwise movement of the crank-shaft. Thus it will be seen that the crank-shaft when once properly positioned Within the frame ct mayrun indefinitely, and its bearings may be adjusted freely without fear of destroying the alinement of the shaft or the parts of the bearings.

The frame a at its lower end isr shown as provided With a threaded passage d3, that communicates with a circumferential opening a4 in the receiver b and through which graphite, grease, or other suitable lubricant may beinserted to furnish such lubrication as the bearing may need. 'Ihis passage a3 is normally closed by a plug-screw a5. The crank-pin d4, as here shown, isalso provided with a circumferential groove d3, the converging or conical Walls whereof constitute the inner bearingsurfaces of a bearing that includes the ballsf. The outer bearing-surfaces for this crank-pin bearing are formed in the conical rings g g', screwed into the receiver g2, (shown as a split socket formed in the end of the connecting rod or pitman g3.) The conical ring g' is shown as closed at its outer side by a plate portion g4 to conceal the end of the crank-pin and exclude dust therefrom, the said ring being also provided With diametrically arranged recesses g5 to receive a usual Spanner by whichv to rotate the said ring, and thereby adjust the said bearing. The ring is held in its adj usted position by compression of the split receiver through the medium of the compression screw or bolt 96.

While the construction of bearing shown and described for the crank-shaft might also be employed for the crank pin, and vice versa, yet in practice I have found that the free axial movement of one part of the bearing relative to the member that carries it is not usually essential in connection with the crank-pin bearing, for the freedom in the crank-pin and Wrist-pin bearings is sufficient to permit the outer end of the connecting-rod to swing sidewise sufficiently to accommodate any ordinary adjustment of the bearing.

The plate-like portion g"l of the outer bearing g' is shown as provided With a central aperture normally closed by the plug-screw gGX,

through which graphite, grease, or other lubricant may be pressed into the space Within the parts of the bearing for such lubrication as may be desired.

I have here shown the rotatable members of the bearings described-viz.,the crank-hub and the crank-pin-as integral members in which theball-grooves are turned; but these circumferentiallygrooved rotatable members, so far as my invention is concerned, may be otherwise formed, and While I prefer the integral formation of the grooves in these members, yet such grooves or the inclined walls thereof may be otherwise or independently formed, if desired.

A construction in accordance with my invention here disclosed provides for al1 necessary adjustments and for ready adjustment of the necessary parts and at the same time insures correct alinement and positioning of the running parts, freedom of rotating parts from complicated construction, also accessibility of the adjustable parts, all of which is extremely desirable in 'light-running highspeed engines, such as used in automobile service. j

It will be noticed that my bearing is what may be termed a four-point bearing-that is, the ball has four points of 'contact symmetrically arranged-#two of which. are upon one memberand two upon the other member thereof. Thus I obtain a bearing wherein there may be a. direct thrust perpendicular to the axis of the bearing with no tendency Whatever to throw any member of the bearing to one side or out of alinement and with no side thrust due to the end thrust. y Furthermore, the free axial or automatic movement-of one of the bearing members relative to the other enables the balls always tofind a bearing at the four necessary points, thus eliminating any tendency to side thrust.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment or form thereof here shown, as obviously it may be varied'within the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Iletters Patent, isv v l.. A ball-bearing comprising axially-fixed and Vfreely axially movable Abearing members, a receiver for the latter of said members and freely axially movable therewith and balls arranged between said members. A

2. A ball-bearingcomprising a rotatable, circumferentially-groioved member, a series of balls arranged in said groove, an opposed multipart bearing member cooperating With said balls, one of the parts of said opposed bearing memberbeing adjustable toward and ICO IIO

from the other part thereof, said opposed bearing member having a free, axial movement relative to said rotatable member.

v 3. A ball-bearing comprising a rotatable circumferentially-grooved member, an opposed multipart bearing member, with balls arranged between the same and said grooved rotatable member, the parts of said multipart bearing member being adjustable one relative to another, and a freely axially movable receiver for said multipart bearing member.

4, A ball-bearing comprising a rotatable, circumferentially-grooved member, an opposed multipart bearing member, a freely axially movable receiver for said multipart bearing member and in which the parts of the latter are adjustable one relative to the other, and means to retain the parts of such multipart bearing member in adjusted position without interfering withv the free axial movement thereof with said receiver. j

5. A ball-bearing comprising a rotatable, circumferentially-grooved member, balls arranged in the said groove, an axially-movable receiver, a multipart bearing member arranged therein, one of the parts of vsaid member having threaded engagement with said receiver, and means to retainthe parts of said multipart member in adjusted posi- A tion in said receiver.

6. A ball-bearing comprising a rotatable, circumferentially-grooved member,'balls arranged in the groove of said member, a flanged receiver, a multipart bearing arranged within said receiver, one ofv the parts of said bearing being seated againstthe flange of said receiver, the other partof said bearing having threaded engagement with said receiver.

7. A ball-bearing comprising a recessed frame or support, a freely axially movable receiver therein, bearing-rings contained in said receiver and adjustable one toward the other, a rotatable, circumferentially-grooved member, and balls arranged between the same and said bearing-rings.

8. A ballbearing comprising a recessed gsupport or frame, a freely axially movable receiver arranged therein, bearing-rings contained in said receiver, one of said rings be- 'ing in threadedl engagement with said rethe form of a crank opposed to said bearingrings with balls interposed between the latter and said crank, a rotatable shaft for said crank and from which the latter is endwise removable, a screw continin g said crank upon said shaft, and means to` lock said screw against rotation whereby said crank, receiver bearing-rings and balls may be removed from said shaftand from said frame member.

10. A ball-bearing comprising a rotatable member, a series of balls arranged in contact therewith, an opposed multipart bearing member coperating with said balls, said opposed bearing member and said rotatable member having free axial movement one relative to the other, one of the parts of said opposed bearing member being also adjustable toward and from the other part thereof.

In testimony whereof I have -signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. REYNOLDS. 

